Immunosuppressed on Actemra???: Does anyone know if... - PMRGCAuk

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Immunosuppressed on Actemra???

emmamom profile image
6 Replies

Does anyone know if being on Actemra puts you more or less at risk of covid complications? I had one doctor tell me I was actually safer on Actemra bc it is being used as a treatment for Covid.

And, anyone know if Actemra affects our ability to mount an immune response to vaccines?

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emmamom
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PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Some authors seem to think so

jrheum.org/content/48/7/1098

Rituximab is bad news though!

Terribly difficult to look it up though as Actemra is used in Covid so that is what always comes up.

But this

readcube.com/articles/10.33...

says

"In conclusion our study showed that having comorbidities and glucocorticoid use were significantly associated with a worse COVID-19 outcome in IRD patients. Treatment with bDMARDs does not seem to affect COVID-19 outcome while csDMARDs may have a protective effect against the development of severe disease"

bDMARDs are biologic DMARDs including Actemra and csDMARDs are conventional DMARDs such as azathioprine and methotrexate

emmamom profile image
emmamom in reply toPMRpro

Thank you so much for this!

Plains profile image
Plains

Hi, I am on Actemra infusions. I recently got covid and was put on Plaxovid, they told me I should feel better in a day or two after starting it… well, I was not until 1 days later.

I still have a little bit of a cough, which I am told can last 6 weeks or more. I am only taking 2 1/2 mg of prednisone and feeling good as far as pain. I only had a slight fever for a day with covid. My major complaint was stuffy ness in my head and congestion in my chest. My GP thought I was affected more due to my immune system being compromised. Hope this information helps.

emmamom profile image
emmamom in reply toPlains

Thank you for sharing. Hope you are ALL better soon!

BossHoss profile image
BossHoss

I would believe less since they use Actemra to treat Covid patients.

Sharitone profile image
Sharitone

In the UK, being on Actemra entitles you to the extra vaccines for the 'severely immuno-suppressed', and to Paxlovid if you do catch Covid. So obviously someone somewhere thinks it puts you more at risk!

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